Supermarket will stock wonky avocados as prices hit new high

Yorkshire-based supermarket Morrisons will sell the misshapen and superficially blemished fruit for 39p each, or £2.40 a kilogram, as the average retail price hits £1.05, up from 98p last year.

The global price of avocados has recently reached record levels due to flooding and drought, late harvests and worker strikes in grower areas.

European buyers have been seeing prices spike because produce from their main supplier, Peru, is going to the US, which is facing a significant decline in Californian output because of bad weather.

Poor crops have coincided with soaring demand from consumers, attracted to the fruit’s health benefits including high levels of vitamin E, iron and potassium.

Morrisons is sourcing its wonky avocados – Hass, Pinkerton and Fuerte varieties – from South Africa, where growers would benefit from reduced waste, increased crop yields and higher farm incomes. The grocer said the avocados were termed “wonky” on account of their assorted sizes and superficial skin blemishes caused by natural wind scarring while on the tree.

James Turner, avocado buyer at Morrisons, said: “Avocados have become one of Britain’s most expensive salad items. But our new Wonky line means customers will be able to buy this luxury item for a fraction of the price.

“Apart from being odd shapes and sizes, and with some marks on the outer hard skin, they’re the same as normal avocados.”